Interactive physical therapy

Abstract

Persons recovering from injuries or surgeries today generally undertake physical therapy to regain usage of their muscles, joints and other portions of their body. Unfortunately such treatments often do not fully restore the patient's function, at least within constraints of the funds available. Added costs are also incurred by patients for transportation, time off work and the like. Disclosed are systems and methods to provide greatly improved and much more cost effective physical therapy regimens utilizing an interactive approach which makes possible physical therapy at home in a controlled manner. The physical therapist using the system instructs the patient and this instruction is incorporated into an intelligent camera-based system usable by the patient in the home or workplace. Dialog may take place between the patient and therapist using the system and the internet. Other features of the system increase motivation of the patient to perform the exercises prescribed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is related to the following pending applications of one of the inventors, Timothy R. Pryor, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.[0002]U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 358,404, entitled “Motivation and Enhancement of Physical and Mental Exercise, Rehabilitation and Health.”[0003]U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 754,285, entitled “Camera Based Interactive Exercise.”[0004]U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 941,304, entitled “Motion Based Video Games,” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,068,095.[0005]U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 544,180, entitled “Improvement of Mental Health and Well-Being.”FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0006]The present invention relates to physical therapy and equipment therefore, generally using at least in part, one or more electro-optical sensors such as a TV camera to determine motion and position of a patient to aid in a therapy program to recover from injuries or surgical procedures.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a new method for physical therapy that uses technology to improve the results of traditional therapy. It uses cameras and sensors to collect data on a patient's movements and provides real-time feedback to the patient and therapist. This helps to motivate and evaluate the patient's progress. The technology is affordable and easy to use, making it accessible to a wider range of people. Overall, this method provides a more effective and affordable option for physical therapy.

Problems solved by technology

This in turn is a function of overextended health care systems, both private and government run, which simply can't support the amount of therapy it may take to return a person to “normal,” or even to basic functionality.

Where such persons are, for example, elderly or overweight, such therapy typically takes more time and thus cost.

The health care system operating under the traditional physical therapy model has many problems.

Increasingly there is concern for the growing out-of-pocket expense which patients are less able to afford due to economic difficulties.

In addition, the current system magnifies the impact of improper technique since patients don't have as frequent encounters for the feedback.

Compliance is also a major problem and a long standing one, also magnified by decreased frequency in visits per patient per diagnosis.

Resultant issues relating to the above are: a patient's decreasing visit frequency or withdrawal from therapy altogether; inability to get to high level of skill activity before discharge; perpetuation of improper exercise technique even after receiving home exercise instruction which results in lack of improvement; and an ongoing burden on the health care system.

Problems of the above have resulted in several responses by insurance companies, patients, and therapists, generally with negative health impacts.

These include limiting visits, spreading visits out, and extensive use of home exercise in the traditional sense and often futile due to inadequate education and monitoring of the patients.

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